Hi Fern,
Those Viewstar amplifiers were first-rate all the way, to be sure.
I first saw one "up close & personal" at a Hamfest some 24 years ago, and
really admired its construction. It looked like the absolute best sort of a
rig that a savvy, experienced homebrewer could make --- rugged to the nth
degree, yet everything seemed to be quite accessible...not at all like the
automobiles being manufactured to-day, that were obviously designed by
engineering grads who never understood the expression "shade tree mechanic"
(ever try to change certain spark plugs in 99% of the current FWD
delights...?).
It seems to me, though, that Hammond Manufacturing (in Guelph, Ontario)
first designed & manufactured these amplifiers...if memory serves me well,
Viewstar bought the manufacturing rights from them, and then when they went
under, Barker & Williamson took the line over for awhile...
Anyway, they ARE "good'uns", well worth hanging onto.
~73~ Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ
----- Original Message -----
From: "Fern Rivard" <crc@cyberlink.bc.ca>
To: "Tom W8JI" <w8ji@w8ji.com>; <Gudguyham@aol.com>
Cc: <amps@contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, July 30, 2006 10:58 AM
Subject: Re: [Amps] Ameritron Amps
> Some of the best hf amplifiers were built by Viewstar. They had 3
> different models with the small one PT-1000 using a single 3-500Z, then
> the PT-2500 which had a pair of 3-500Z and the very rare one model
> PT-3000A (only 5 of those produced) using a single 8877 tube with
> factory QSK option installed with vacuum relays. The line was later on
> sold to B&W but unfortunately it did not last very long there.
> All 3 models of those amps were very well built and very reliable.
> I have owned all 3 different models but now only have the PT-3000A which
> is a very nice high power desk top amp. The only problem with it is
> that I had to replace a padder ceramic cap used across the main tuning
> cap on 160 and 80 meters and to replace the ceramic loading cap used on
> 160 meters with a mica type to prevent drifting of the loading when
> operating rtty or am.
> I certainly would not derated any hf amplifier when the problem is
> with inferior poor quality tubes which was quite a common thing going
> back a few years ago when the import tubes from say China were coming
> in. We should blame ourselves for not wanting to pay the high prices for
> better quality north american or European brands of tubes which were
> available all along.
> Just my 2 cents worth. Cheers from Fern VE7GZ
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tom W8JI" <w8ji@w8ji.com>
> To: <Gudguyham@aol.com>
> Cc: <amps@contesting.com>
> Sent: Sunday, July 30, 2006 9:18 AM
> Subject: Re: [Amps] Ameritron Amps
>
>
> >> Tom, I am not aware of what amp you might be referring to
> >> here, can you lwt
> >> me know...PLEASE! Thanks 73 Lou
> >
> > When the Chinese were making 3-500Z tubes with regular glass
> > and holes were sucking in the sides, Rich concluded it was a
> > VHF parasitic that couldn't be seen or measured. This VHF
> > oscillation supposedly caused dielectric heating of glass at
> > VHF.
> >
> > Paul Hrivnak of Viewstar, Palstar, Vectronics fame was
> > building a single 3-500 amp using that particular Chinese
> > tube. He changed to nichrome suppressors and tubes kept
> > right on failing.
> >
> > 73 Tom
> >
> >
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>
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